U.S. Olympic Committee announces honorary torchbearer for 2013 Warrior Games presented by Deloitte

U.S. Navy Lt. Bradley Snyder, who competed at the 2012 Warrior Games presented by Deloitte before winning three medals at the Paralympic Games in London, will light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the 2013 Warrior Games.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Today, the United States Olympic Committee announced that Navy Lt. Bradley Snyder will be the honorary torchbearer for the Opening Ceremony of the 2013 Warrior Games presented by Deloitte in Colorado Springs, Colo. Approximately 260 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans will compete in the fourth annual Warrior Games utilizing facilities at both the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The competition, hosted by the USOC, is also supported by the Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, USO, Fisher House Foundation, AT&T, BP, Budweiser and the Semper Fi Fund, and will take place May 11-16, 2013.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to still be a part of something very near and dear to my heart,” said Lt. Snyder. “The Warrior Games have already had an impact on so many lives, and I am truly honored to represent the U.S. Navy/Coast Guard in broadening the event.”

The torch relay will be a brief procession that will include the passing of the torch from one athlete from each service branch to another, culminating in the hand off to Lt. Snyder, who will light the cauldron -ceremonially signaling the official start of the 2013 Warrior Games presented by Deloitte. The Opening Ceremony is at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

Lt. Snyder lost his vision during a tour in Afghanistan when an IED exploded in Sept. 2011. He competed in the 2012 Warrior Games, and later that year, he went on to qualify in swimming for the London 2012 Paralympic Games where he won two gold medals and silver. Snyder won the men’s 400 meter freestyle (S11) on the exact one year anniversary of his injury (Sept. 7).

“I can think of no better person than Lt. Brad Snyder to act as the honorary torch bearer for the Opening Ceremony of the 2013 Warrior Games presented by Deloitte,” said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. “Lt. Snyder truly shows that what happens here over six days in Colorado Springs can have a lasting impact on our wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans. Last May, he was a competitor at the Warrior Games, less than a year after losing his sight in an IED explosion in Afghanistan. He joins us this May as a three-time medalist at the Paralympic Games.”

Please note that the Opening Ceremony is a ticketed event and is not open to the public. However, all competitions are free and open to the public.